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Community Corner

Slurpin' Soup to Feed Connecticut

Nearly 1,500 "chowdaheads" gathered for Saturday's 3rd Annual Chowdafest to support the Connecticut Food Bank.

Yesterday's sleet, rain and just-above freezing temperatures were hardly deterrents for true chowdaheads.

A crowd of nearly 1,500 ardent New England Clam Chowder fans congregated in Westport's Bedford Middle School Saturday for the 3rd annual Chowdafest, a fundraiser for the Connecticut Food Bank. 

"The rainy day probably helped," said Jim Keenan, chairperson of Chowdafest. "How else would you want to spend your day other than slurping some soup and seeing some friends?  It's better than waiting for snow!"

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And while the forecast for snow never transpired, some serious soup slurping did. Chefs from 17 local restaurants proffered a total of 26 assorted chowders, bisques, and soups for judgement, hoping to win one of the three 2011 Chowdafest titles—"Best Classic New England Clam Chowder," "Best Creative Clam Chowder," and "Best Soup or Bisque."

Styles ranged  from  the Guiness and chorizo chowder offered by Nicholas Roberts Gourmet Bistro in Norwalk -- a silky, hedonistic combination of steamed clams, chorizo sausage and Guiness stout -- to Da Pietro's mediterranean chowder—a Provençal infusion of grouper, clams, potatoes, and a hint of saffron.

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Southport Brewing Company's executive chef and the incumbent creative soup champion, Dave Rutigliano, brought to the table his B.L.T. bisque -- a futuristic-like notion that concentrated the flavors of a B.L.T. sandwich into a cup of soup. But it wasn't this innovation that secured him a victory for two consecutive years. This year he took the title of Best Creative Chowder, deposing last year's victor, The Ginger Man of Norwalk, with his corn and poblano chowder. 

While Nicholas Roberts Gourmet Bistro didn't win with its Guiness and chorizo chowder, they did win the category of Best Soup and Bisque with their lobster bisque.  Rigo Lino, a veteran of Chowdafest and executive chef and co-owner of Westport's Mansion Clam House, also brought the thunder, taking the title of Best Classic Clam Chowder. "

Among other favorites were The Riverhouse's seafood chowder and Liquid Lunch's Buffalo chicken soup. "The Buffalo chicken soup was surprising," said Joe D'Anna of Westport. "It wasn't too hot or salty." And is wife, Alica, agreed.  "The celery was surprisingly crisp and cooling," she said.

And while the financials haven't yet been calculated to discern whether enough money and canned goods were donated to surpass the 15,000 meals created by the 2009 Chowdafest, attendance records were set.

In 2009, the event was spread over a two day period, Nov. 27-28, and set a record of 800 people attending in one day. This year's one day marathon tasting brought nearly 1,500 people, acheiving in one day what 2009's event had in two.

"I think we'll surpass [2009's] 15,000 meals," said Keenan. "But right now I'm still trying to digest from yesterday."

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